Philip Sparn | ClarksvilleNow.com
psparn@ClarksvilleNow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Just days before Jacob Shroyer embarks on the tough journey of having surgery to remove a brain tumor, NFL cornerback Cortland Finnegan visited Jacob and his classmates at Northeast High School Wednesday afternoon to provide support and give him words of encouragement.
Jacob is a sophomore at Northeast High School and played wide-receiver and cornerback for the Eagles as a freshman before he was diagnosed with a brain tumor during the off-season.
His favorite football player is Finnegan and he has been watching the all-pro NFL cornerback play since he was playing for the Tennessee Titans from 2006-2011 and still loves watching him play for the St. Louis Rams.
Finnegan drove to Northeast High School from Nashville and surprised Jacob and his teammates at a presentation where Jacob was being named an honorary team member for the Eagles by Head Coach Isaac Shelby.
“He is my favorite athlete and it is amazing to know he stopped by to support me and let me know he cares about me,” said Jacob.
Jacob was also glad his classmates and football teammates came to wish him well on his upcoming journey.
“It’s great to know that I have friends and teammates that are here to support me,” said Jacob.
Finnegan said he came to visit Jacob and his teammates because he didn’t want him to be scared and he wanted to let Jacob know he had a strong support system.
“I wanted to come shine a bright light on Jacob and give him a smile at the same time,” said Finnegan.
The Pro-Bowl cornerback challenged every one of Jacob’s teammates and friends to always have his back and be a strong support system for him all the way through the process.
Finnegan also brought his friend, Kelsey Towns, who had undergone chemotherapy and surgery a few years prior to provide some guidance and support.
“I brought Kelsey because she’s been through chemo and surgery like Jacob.”
Towns is a junior Nursing major at Western Kentucky and was happy to be helping Jacob through his challenging times.
“I shared what I went through and I gave him some words of encouragement,” said Towns. “Jacob has a great attitude and I enjoyed giving him my support and guidance because we have been through similar situations.”
Jacob’s grandmother, Diane Ripley, said Jacob’s family has been Titans fans since the organization moved to Tennessee and they became fans of the St. Louis Rams when coach Jeff Fisher and a few of the players, including Finnegan, moved to the St. Louis Rams organization.
She said their family gets together and drives to St. Louis to watch Finnegan and the Rams play at least once a year.
“It meant so much to Jacob and us to have everyone here, especially Cortland, supporting Jacob through these challenging times,” said Ripley. “I am so thankful for what Cortland is doing this for Jacob.”
Ripley contacted the St. Louis Rams organization when Jacob was having reservations about having the surgery. She said she got a phone call the next day saying Finnegan wanted to visit Jacob in Clarksville.
“This is a bigger thing than football … It is about life.” said Finnegan. “I get more joy out of taking a drive to give someone like Jacob a smile, than the game of football.”
Jacob will have his first of two surgeries on Monday at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and hopes to be back on the football field next season for Northeast High School.
“I look forward to football season,” Jacob said. “Football has helped prepare me for the challenges I have already faced and the ones I have ahead of me.”
